Montana n: A state of the northwest United States bordering on Canada. Admitted as the 41st state in 1889. The fourth largest state in the union, it includes vast prairies and numerous majestic mountain ranges.
Syn: Treasure State, Big Sky Country, Last Best Place.

The photos are some excellent before and after photos of the glaciers in GNP. Some very cool historic photos and their modern equivalents re-shot from the same location. A little historic perspective on the geologic history of the park.

Conventional wisdom says this is evidence of big bad global warming in action. Could be true. I do recall is hearing that Dr. Lyman B. Sperry upon the discovery of his namesake glacier(1) back in 1896 had declared it a dying glacier and it would probably not last more than another century(2). The glaciers have been dying since before 'global warming' was a buzzword. So as for that silly petition to have the Park declared endangered. It's a bunch of bunkum in my mind. Using dubious science for political gain. I am not trying to suggest that there is no global warming. I believe that the scientific evidence backs that up pretty well. I'm just saying that using the hundred year old knowledge of dying glaciers to make a 20 year old claim is faulty logic. The park is in no danger and should not be declared "endangered" just because Bush won't sign onto Kyoto. Please keep our Park out of the crossfire in this debate.

Another point that the article gets completely and spectacularly wrong is the very first sentence. The suggestion that the park should be renamed when the glaciers melt. Glacier National Park was not named because it has glaciers. It was named because glaciers created it. It has long been said that a much better name for the park would have been "Glacial Lakes National Park". Rename the park? Gimmie a break. Even after every last river of ice has melted into old timey photographs only the ignorant would suggest taking "glacier" out of Glacier National Park.

I'm super behind on reading a bunch of blogs but I'm with you on every word of this one! Glacier Park was, is and always should be glacier park. When I come out this summer a few days alone in the Park are definitely in store. i need the energy I get from the Park back.